IMPORTANT TO WORKERS.

NZ Truth, Issue 78, 15 December 1906, Page 5

IMPORTANT TO WORKERS.

It seems quite possible that the Supreme Court will be asked to play duck and drakes with another Arbitration Court Award, viz.. that m force governing the bookbinding trade, the interpretation of which by the Supreme Court will be °* paramount importance to every worker m New Zealand over whose trade the Arbitration Court holds sway Possibly—as it ' effects the pockets of employers—there will foe an appeal against a decision, an apparently just and sensible decision given by Dr.. McArthur, S.M., last Tuesday m the case of a bookbinder named Henry Charles Taylor, who sued the printing and bookbinding firm of Whitcombe and Tombs for the sum of £8 3s 9d, being a sum due for 131 hours deducted from the salary due to the plaintiff from October 9, 1905. An additional claim was made for 7s 6d expense's incurred owing to his transfer from Wellington, to Chiristcb.ur.eh. The facts are briefly that Taylor was engaged m London to come to Wellington to work for the defendant firm at £3 a week. His claim was based on the fact that the sum of 10s a day or Is 3d an hour had been deducted froir* his tfaffes for statutory holidays such as Christmas Day, Good Friday. Labor Day. etc. Mr Levvey, who appeared for the plaintiff, contended that an employer was bound to pay their employees on such holidays. Part of the claim was also based on the fact that the plaintiff should be paid for a number ol days that he had not been able to work owing to the recent fire and after which he had been transferred to Ohristehurch. . v Mr Your? who anpeared for the de* fend ant firm called a number of bookbinders who said that it was not the custom m the trade to pay for holidays. He (Mr Younc) contended that though the award read that time and a-half and double time should be naid for work done on those days it did riot mean that employers should pay ordinary time. Dr. McArthur, without nailing on Mr Levvev to replxr, held that it did. and disallowi'ii 1* the Hnim for wanes due for those days when work, owmc to the fire, wps imno^ble. it.ivp thf? Plaintiff a verdict fo* &C Ps fid and costs. . ; Mr Younfr therpunon .iskeri for \ I leave to anneal, whirh wns ;rvanierl. I -^— ——